Inductor magneto-alternator.



No. 843,541. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907. L. J. LB PONTOIS. INDUGTB. MAGNETOALTERNATOR.

APPLIOATIGN FILED DIEU. 11. 1905.

2 SHEETS-BHEET l.

PATBNTBD FEB. 5, 1907.

L. J. LE PONTOIS.

INDUGTOR MAGNETO ALTERNATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 11. 1905.

2 SHEBTS-BHBBT 2.

WMM/emo UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

LEON J. LE PONTOIS, OF `YEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO POLY- PHASEIGITION SYSTEM COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEI/V YORK.

ymiriuoTon MAGNE'ro-ALTERNATor-z.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. i907.

Application filed December 1l, 1905. Serial No 291.261.

. y "The present inveniion relates to an inductpr niagneio-alternazordesigned io generare alternating currents suitable for the ignirion ofcombustible mixiurcs in infernal-combustion engines eiiliei by themalre-and-break system or by the jump-spark sys'iem.

l In my Parent No. 808,555, dated Decembei' 2G, 1905, I have described amagneto pre- Santing a very imporr anc feaiure in thai without the useof reci'ifying means che alternating current'J generated was parriallyruilized ,to mainrain the so-called permanent magnet constituting theiield of the magneio conn actual permanent` degree of magnetiza- V4tion.

j The object of the present invent-ion is to constriicil a magnetoembodying the same principle and presenting the. additional advantagethai' in Whaiever osition the inducior-roior may be stoppe thereluctance` of the[iiiagnericrircuit comprising the fieldmagneis, [hepolar projecrions, the indifciorrotor, and the air-gaps bew'een thelatter and the faces vof the polar projections will be s uIiciently-lowto allow the larger part of the Arr'iagneiic field to close itselfthrough such circuit instead of closing itself by leakage alofv T,thelines of least magneiio relucrance, vvljiixiiii leakage tends to causethe ulimaie `de olarizaiion ofthe ermanent magnet.

n carrying out my invention I provide t'wo distinct paths for themagneic flux issuing from the oles of the permanent magnet, said pathseing so disposed With relaion to the inductor-roor that Whenever saidrotor by its posi-tion causes the reluctance of one o t he paphs to beincreased a corresponding decrease Will take place in the relucrance ofthe other path, thereby maintaining the tor al reluctance of themagnetic circuit, lincluding the rotor, to a fairly constant;` value forrho pur ose desired.

' 'Illia invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in

ture 5, formed of soft-iron Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionon the plane of the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, and Fig.

2 a transverse vercical seccion on the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

lSimilar reference-numerals indicate similar par. s in ihe severalviews.

In embodying my invention in practical form I have obained the bestresulis by employing the annular permanent magnet described in my ParentNo. 807,949, dated December 19, 1905, overcoming, however, anyobjeciions to the bulk inherent to that form of magnec by disposing theaxis of rotation of che roior in a plane parallel to the plane of theannular. magnet. I am thus enabled to construct a magneto having acompara'lively powerful field and occupying notwirhsranding a somewhatnarrower space than ihe ordinary magneto having horseshoe-maglie is. Inorder, however, to properly balance Lhe magneic pull on theinducto'r, Iemploy iwo such annular magnets so placed thai; poles of the samepolarity face each oiher and that the magnetic flux issuin from theopposiie poles of each magnet Wil follow the same magnetic path throughthe roor.

In order to secure a very compact structure, I inclose` the arts abovereferred to in a substantially circular diamagnetic casing 1, preferablyaluminium, closed on its sides by suitable covers 2 to provide a dustand Water roof structure. In suitable ball-bearings 3 is supported ashaft 4, to which latter are secured the rotor 5 and the driving member6. The ball-bearings 3 may be of any usual type adapted to the purpose,the present construction showing the casin 1 formed with in-Wardlyrejecting cham ers 7 and 7', Within which tilie bearin s aresupported. Ono of these chambers is c osed by a suitable cover 8,

forming an oil-chamber between said cover and the inner end 9 of thischamber. A similarly-disposed cover 8 closes the chambei 7. The oil inthe chambers 7 and 7 is prevented from escaping into the casing 1 'byrings 10 and 10', having sharp proleoting shoulders, as shown. Rigidlysecured t-o the shaft 4 is a bushing 11, suplporting an armaamininsulated fromV each other and pressed together between a ange at oneend of the bushing a screw-cap 12 at' the opposite end the and IOO

bushing l1 to constitute an inductor-rotor. The inductor-poles are ofthe peculiar construction shown in Fig. 2, the object being to provide amagnetic conductor capable of modifyingr by its rotation the reluctanceof a magnetic lield passing' through its mass. The plates` when properlyassembled present the appearance substantially of a cylinder having twosections of its periphery cut away, the depth of the depression being inone of my commercial forms about one centimeter. The depressed circularwalls drop abruptly and substantially radial in direction at 13 and riseat 14 to the surfaces 15 of the cylinder by a very gradual slope.

Nithin the casing and .symmetrically disposed on each side oi' thecentral vertical plane of Fig. 2 are secured two annular magnets 16 and17, having consequent poles N" and S. These magnets are similar inconstruction, each consisting of a steel ribbon continuously wound inthe form of a helix after it has been hardened. lnstea d of winding in acircular or ring form the ribbon maybe wound in the form of an oval,square, or rectangle, suitable insulation beingI interposed betweenadjacent con.

volutions to prevent the formation of a magnetic short circuit betweeneonvolutions, which might be at a dill'crent magnetic potential. Afterthe st eel ring has been wound and the ends securely fastened it isaccurately ground on both faces and placed in a powerful magneticcircuit, closing itself by each side of the magnet to thereby develop intwo opposite zones two opposite magnetic ioles. In order to hold theconvolutions of the magnets during the process of grinding and magnetization, a brass ring 1.8 is shrunk thereon. lYhen the two 1nagnets`areassembled inthe easing, they are so placed that poles of similarpolarity face each other. Located between the polarized zones of the twomagnets and rigidljr fastened to the casing are polar projections 19 and20, extending into close proxiniitjv to the rot at ingl inductor.

The polarized zones of the magnets are )laced in close magnetic contactwith the polar projections 19 and 20. These latter are built up ofsoft-iron laminte substantialhv rectangular in shape and having twoteeth 21 'l2 and 21 2'. of unequal width and terinitiatingin lacesstruck on the are of a circle from a central point on the axis of theinductor. These lamina are held together by suitable insulated rivetsand secured to the casing by means of two brass disks 23, substan tiallycircular in shape, cast around the upper ends of the lamina` after theyhave been assembled. To insure a perfect union between the lamina andthe brass disks, the former when stamped are shaped with dovetailprojections 24. lt will be noted that the faces of the teeth of thepolar projections having the same width are diametrically placed. Coilsare wound upon the` tec-H122 and 22.

l laces of the teeth 21 21.

vcare being taken that the outer surfaces thereof are carefullyprotcct'edvfrom any possible. grounding. These coils are wound ri ht andlett, their beginnin s being electrically connected to the metalicstructure ofthe machine, the ends connected together, so that both coilsare grouped in parallel and connected to the binding-post 28. located onone of the side covers 2.

The elements above described constitute an alternating-current generatorof the inductor type partially excited by the ermanent magnetic fieldand partially .exciting itself, owing to the shape of the rotatinginductor and the location 1n the path of the magnetic field of thewindings 2 5, in which the alter. nating currents are generated.

lt is obviousI that upon the rotation of the iiiuctor in the directionof the arrow in Fig. 2 the rotor will at one time reach a position whenthe outer circular surfaces l5 will bridge the total width of the teeth21 22 and 21 22. In this position the magnetic flux issuing from thepermanent magnets will find a practically-closed path from polo to pole`dividing itself between the two teeth 21 22 and 21 22 in proportion totheir respective magnetic cross-sections. Upon a further angular motionof the inductor in the same dircction the depressions of the inductor.are brought across the teeth 21 21 of the polar projections. Theconsiderable increase in the reluctance of the air-gaps existing betweenthese teeth an'l the depressed walls of the ingluctor causes themagnetic flux to seek the better path offered by the teeth 22 22. Thedensity of the magnetic lux threading through the coils 25 is then amaximum. A further angular motion of the inzittetor in the sainedirection brings it to the position show n in Fig. 2. While reachingthat position the reluctance of the path between the teeth 22 22 is enthe verge of increasing abruptly, as the air-gap existing` between Saidteeth and the edges 26 of the inductor is increasing rapillyfor a veryslight angular motion of the in uctor In the meantime the eliges 2T havepenetrated within the faces of the teeth 21 21', thereby causing;r partof the magnetic flux to be diverted from they path 22 22 to seek thebetter path being established between the teeth 21 21. It is at thismoment that thc rate of change in the intensity of the magnetic lluxthreaing through the coils 25 reaches sultienly a maximum, and thereforethe current generated in said coils reaches a high peak wave pending avery Short angular motion of the iinluctor. lt must be borne in ininfl.however, that the edges 2T should not penetrate too `ieeply within thepolar surbefore the reluctance of the magnetic path 22 22 has increasedsu thinly. for otherwise the magnetic lie d tht'ea ting' through thecpils 25 would pass too gradually from the path 22 22 to the IOO path 2121, thereby defeating the object of t the invention, which is to obtaina very Shar peak wa'vj'e, whlch will give the best resu t with theordinary induction-coil. For this reason eX eriinents have been made todetermine t e best possible relation ofthe angular distances between theoutside edges of however, the inductoreiges 27 to penetrate deeplenouofh within the teeth 21 21 to offer4 a fair y good7 magnetic pathfor the flux issuing fromA the permanent magnets, so that should thegenerator at this critical moment be broughtto a standstill and remainstationary for any length of time the by-path offered by theteeth 21 21and that part of the inductor covered by these teeth to the magneticflux will be of sufficiently low'reiuctance `to revent an abnormal'leakage outside of this ath and will therefore tend to prevent thedepolarization of the magnet. The current thus generated can be leddirectl to the terminals of a suitable make-andbreall(I sparking plugand utilized in this form. It may also be utilize-fl to energize therimary of an induction-coil when connecte` to said primary by a suitableinterrupter shunted by a proper condenser, as described in an appicationfiled by m'e of even date herewi What I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. An inductor magneto-alternator cornprising a permanent field-magnet,vbifurcated polar projections adjacent to the poles of said magnet,stationary .windings surrounding two of the diametrically oppositebifurcations, and aninductor-rotor adapted to modify by its rotation thedistribution of the magnetic flux through the` o positely-disposedbifurcations, whereby t 1e reluctance of the magnetic circuit comprisingthe permanent magnet,the bifurcated polar projections, theinductor-rotor, and the air-gaps existing between the rotor and the saidpolar projections is kept down to a fairly constant value for thepurpose st ated.

2. An inductor magneto-alternator comprising a permanent field-magnet,bifurcated polar projections adjacent to the poles of said magnet, sttionary windings surrounding two of the diametrically oppositebifurcations, and a dissy'mmetric' inductor-rotor `prising two annularadapted to modify by its rotation the distribution of, the magnetic fluxthrough the oppositely-disiposed bifurcations, for the purpose describe3. An indu'ctor magneto-alternator cornrising a permanent magnet formedof a' per-J manently-magnetized' ring wound from a continuoushardened-steel ribbon, laminatedA polar projections adjacent to the'consequent tween and a poles of said magnet said poles being bifui'-cated, stationary windings surrounding two ofV the diametrically oposite bifurcations and an inductor-rotor adapted to modifyv by itsrotation the distribution of the magnetlc flux through theoppositely-disposed bifurcations, whereby the reluctance ofthe magneticcircuit comprising the permanent magnet, the bifurcated polarprojections, the inductor-rotor, and the air-gaps existingbetween therotor and the said polar projections is kept down to a fairly constantvalue for the purpose stated.

4. An inductor magneto-alternator comprising two annular permanentmagnets so mounted that poles of the same polarity face each other, olarprojections mounted between and a jacent to the magnetic poles of' saidmagnets -said projections being bifurcated, stationary windingssurrounding. two of the diametrically opposite bifurcations, ashaftlocated between and having its axis in a plane parallel to theplane of said magnets, and an inductor-rotor mounted on said shaft andadapted to rotate between the faces of said polar projections.

5. An inductor magneto-alternator ,come prising two annular ermanentmagnets so mounted that poles o the same polarity face cach other, olarprojections mounted between and adjacent to the magnetic poles of saidmagnets said projections being -bifurcated, stationary windingssurrounding two of the diametric'ally opposite bifurcations,a shaftlocated between and having its axis in a plane parallel to the plane ofsaid magnets, and a dlssymmetricinductor-rotor mounted on said shaftandadapted to rotate between the faces of said polar projections.

6. An inductor magneto-alternator comprising two similar annularpermanent magnets each formed ofa permanentl v-magnetized ring wound.from a continuous ardened- `steel ribbon said magnets being so mountedthatpoles of the same polarity face each other,

olar projections mounted between and adjacent to the magnetic poles ofsaid magnets said projections beingbifurcated, stationary windingssurrounding two of the diametr'ically opposite bifurcations, a shaftlocated between and having its axis in a plane parallel to the plane of-said magnets, and an inductor-rtor mounted n said shaft and adapted torotate'betwen the faces of said polar projections.

7. An inductor magneto-alternator comermanent magnets so mounted thatpoleso the same polarity face each other, olar projections mountedbedjacent to the magnetic poles of said magnets, stationary windingsadjacent to said polar projections, a shaft located. betwcenandhavingits axis of rotation 1n a plane parallel to the plane of said magnets,and an inductor-rotor mounted on said shaft ICO and adapted to rotatebetween the faces of monntecl on mill shaft and :ldapteil lo rotate 1osaid polar projections. between the faves ol' .said polanprojeetions.

8. An imluetol magneto-ulteinntor eoin- In txmtilnonjr hereof l 'lwehereunto prising an annular permanent magnet, polar signed my mime inthe presence of two sul) projections adjacent to the eonseqnex'i-t polesseiibing witnesses.

of said magneti, stationary windings mljneent LEON J. LE PUNTOIS. tosaid polar projections, n shaft having ite Witnesses.:

axis of rotation in a plane parallel to the OLIX A. FOSTER.

plane of said magnet, and an induetor-rotoi GEO. W. l,.\\\.'\:A

